System and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids

ABSTRACT

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preserved storage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or other liquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquid does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensing regime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to a dispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent delivery system. In at least several novel embodiments thereof, the system and method of the present invention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims priority from, and is acontinuation of, the commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/055,876 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING AND SELECTIVELYDISPENSING LIQUIDS” filed Dec. 20, 2013, which in turn claims priorityfrom, and is a continuation in part of, the commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/720,583 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORSTORING AND SELECTIVELY DISPENSING LIQUIDS” filed Dec. 19, 2012, whichin turn claims priority from, and is a continuation in part of, thecommonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/329,282 entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING WITH, AND CONTROLLING, BEVERAGEDISPENSING CONTAINERS” filed Dec. 18, 2011, which in turn claimspriority from the commonly assigned U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/530,509 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING ANDSELECTIVELY DISPENSING LIQUIDS” filed Sep. 2, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods forstoring and dispensing liquids, and more particularly to systems andmethods for selectively dispensing liquids (such as wine or similarbeverages) stored in a pressurized environment by utilizing a controlledsource of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to thepressurized environment to dispense a portion of the stored liquid inaccordance with a desired dispensing regime.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ever-increasing consumption of wine and similar beverages, both invarious commercial establishments (e.g., restaurants, bars, lounges,etc.), and in consumers' homes, coupled with growth in consumerperception of wine as an “experience” meant to be paired with properfood or enjoyed though “tastings”, has resulted not only in a growingconsumer demand for a wider selection of wines made available incommercial establishments (leading to proliferation of dedicated “winebar” establishments), but also fueled the desire of many consumers to beable to bring the “wine bar” or equivalent experience to their home.

While restaurants have traditionally relied on bottle purchases by theirpatrons, leaving only a few low-end wines available for “by the glass”pours from bottles that may remain in use for several days after beingopened, due in large part to the inherent changes (e.g., oxidation) inwine over time when exposed to air, eventually leading to deteriorationand spoilage. However, in view of the above-noted market trends, manyestablishments have been nevertheless forced to expand their“by-the-glass” (hereinafter “BTG”) selections to meet consumer demand,but at a greatly increased cost (both due to rapid deterioration ofunsealed wine bottles, and due to increased costs in labor in managing awide-range of BTG pours). Stand-alone bars and lounges havetraditionally offered limited wine selections, but in view of theaforementioned trends, they were likewise faced with the same obstaclesas the restaurants. Finally, wine bars were forced to deal with thechallenge of keeping a sufficiently wide ranging BTG selection by theirvery nature.

Virtually all attempted solutions to the above challenges involveddevices and systems for preservation and/or dispensation of bottledwines, and thus were quite limited in their success due to inherentdisadvantages of utilization of bottled wine in a commercialestablishment environment, as described in greater detail in thecommonly assigned U.S. provisional patent application entitled “SCALABLEMODULAR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING, PRESERVING, MANAGING, ANDSELECTIVELY DISPENSING BEVERAGES”, Ser. No. 61/530,491, which had beenincorporated by reference in the '282 application, and which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The '491 applicationalso notes that while many disadvantages of the use of bottled wine incommercial establishments are clearly overcome by the utilization oflarger volume less expensive “wine bags” (often offered in a“wine-in-bag”/“bag-in-box” format), to date there has not been asuitable solution offered that would enable commercially practical useof wine-in-bag (hereinafter “WinB”) products in restaurant/barenvironments.

Similarly, while some consumers have invested varying degrees ofresources into wine preservation and/or dispensing systems for theirhome/office use, as is described in greater detail in the commonlyassigned U.S. provisional patent application entitled “SYSTEM AND METHODFOR STORING, PRESERVING AND SELECTIVELY DISPENSING BEVERAGES”, Ser. No.61/530,503, which had been incorporated by reference in the '282application, and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety, a growing number of consumers have also realized theadvantages of WinB products, which has led to a growing selection ofsuch products being made available. Nevertheless, as is noted in the'503 application, virtually all commercially available WinB productsinvolved the use of boxes or equivalent containers for the bagged winewith simple lever or pushbutton-operated pouring spouts interfacing withthe WinB product in the box/container, which clearly carried additionaldisadvantages of their own, that various offered solutions have failedto address.

As is noted in both the '491 and '503 applications, the key obstacles towide-ranging successful use of WinB products in both commercial andconsumer environments include, but are not limited to:

-   -   the difficulties in preserving and pouring wine from WinB        product containers;    -   the amount of space taken up by WinB products and their        containers—an especially serious issue for commercial        environments where space is at a premium;    -   the challenge posed in commercial environments by the necessity        of metering wine pours of specific volume from the WinB        products, and the difficulty in tracking such pours        automatically; and    -   The aesthetic appearance of most WinB products and their        containers does permit their use in tastefully decorated        commercial and consumer environments.

It would thus be desirable to provide a system and method that resolvesall of the disadvantages of previously known WinB products and theirdispensing containers. It would further be desirable to provide a systemand method that offers heretofore unavailable advantageous featuresrelating to preservation and controlled dispensing of liquids, such aswine, from WinB products or equivalents. It would additionally bedesirable to provide a system and method for preserved storage andselective controlled dispensation of liquids, such as wine, that isconfigurable for use with a variety of WinB products, and theirequivalents, that is modular and readily scalable for advantageousutilization in environments ranging from consumer homes to largecommercial establishments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote correspondingor similar elements throughout the various figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventivesystem and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of theinventive system and method for storing and selectively dispensingliquids; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the inventivesystem and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids,configured as an exemplary implementation of the inventive system andmethod of FIG. 2.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior preservedstorage and selective dispensation of liquids by storing wine (or otherliquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquiddoes not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensinga portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensingregime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply asufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desiredvolume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to adispensing/pouring interface through a conduit or equivalent deliverysystem.

In at least one embodiment thereof, the system and method of the presentinvention are configured for use with wine-in-bag (“WinB”) productcontainers (or with any liquids stored in anaerobic compressiblecontainers), where the compressible container is placed into apressurized chamber and interfaced with a liquid delivery conduitconnected to a dispensing component, whereupon, a desired volume ofliquid may be selectively expelled from the compressible container, anddelivered to the dispensing system by utilizing a controlled source ofpressure force to sufficiently increase pressure in the pressurizedchamber to force the desired quantity of liquid from the compressiblebag into the delivery conduit.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should bemade to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The inventive system and method for storing and selectively dispensingliquids, in various embodiments thereof, remedies the flaws anddrawbacks of all previously known wine storage and dispensing solutions,regardless of their configuration, by storing the wine (or otherliquids) in a pressurized environment to ensure that the stored liquiddoes not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensinga portion of the stored liquid, in accordance with a desired dispensingregime, by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply asufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desiredvolume of the liquid in a pressurized stream directed to adispensing/pouring interface.

At the outset, it should be noted that while the various descriptions ofthe system and method of the present invention describe the utilizationthereof with wine or other perishable beverages, it should be understoodto one skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the inventivesystem and method can be readily utilized in conjunction with storageand selective dispensation of any liquid substance (for example paint,solvents, chemical or pharmaceutical agents, etc.) as a matter of designchoice or necessity without departing from the spirit of the invention.Similarly, while the inventive system and method are described as beingoperable for use with WinB products, virtually any anaerobiccompressible container can be readily substituted, or even integratedinto the pressurized chamber (e.g., as a lining, etc.).

In view of the above, for example, the inventive system and method caneven be readily adapted for use in a sterile healthcare environment forpreserving and selectively dispensing donor blood for use in bloodtransfusions, and the like.

The essence of the present invention is that a liquid (e.g., wine) isstored in a pressurized environment under regulated pressure sufficientto maintain it in an anaerobic state (for example the liquid may bestored in a compressible bag disposed inside a sealed pressurizedchamber), whereupon the liquid can be selectively dispensed through anormally locked dispensing conduit connected to its pressurizedenvironment, while maintaining the anaerobic status of the remainingliquid, maintaining a predetermined level of pressure on the storedliquid, that is sufficient to expel the stored liquid in response to thedispensing conduit being selectively unlocked for as long as the conduitis open, n accordance with one or more predetermined dispensingprofiles, each such profile comprising dispensing parameters thatinclude, but that are not limited to, the volume of liquid to bedispensed, the distance the dispensed liquid will need to travel alongthe conduit to a dispensing system/interface to be poured, etc.Preferably the pressurization system compensates for the gradualdecrease in the volume of the stored liquid such that system performanceis maintained after multiple dispensations.

While a number of liquid transport solutions exist, attempting to applythem to address the above-noted challenges of WinB product utilization,reveals their significant disadvantages that render such utilizationimpractical. For example, the majority of liquid transport systemsutilize mechanical pumps, with a separate pump being required for eachliquid dispensing line (greatly increasing the cost of anyimplementation that requires delivery of multiple liquids (i.e., aselection of wines) to a remote dispensing target). Moreover, pumpsgenerate heat during their operation, which has a significant negativeimpact on temperature-sensitive liquids (such as wines). Additionally, amechanical pump requires that a liquid-filled bag (e.g., a WinB product)be placed in a holding vessel, with the nozzle positioned on the bottomof the bag, and because the mechanical pump does not pull the liquid(e.g., the wine) from its container (e.g., the bag), it can never fullyempty the contents of the bag, resulting in ongoing losses of valuableproducts (and creating additional difficulties in depleted bag disposal.Furthermore, as dispensing WinB products is a very intermittent process,subjecting the pump to constant starts/stops greatly increases itswear/tear and leads to a sizable reduction in the pump's useful life.

Other liquid transport solutions eschew the use of mechanical pumps andinstead rely on a “gravity feed” approach coupled with utilization ofregulation flow meters. However, because any liquid transport systembased on such a solution will not be able to transport any liquid fromits container to a dispensing location that is at the same level as, orelevated above, the portion of a bag from which the liquid exits.Moreover, the performance of any gravity feed solution suffers when thedispensing target, to which the liquid must be transported, is notpositioned significantly below the bag from which the liquid is beingdispensed.

Finally, both of the above-described previously known liquid transportsolutions also suffer from one more common drawback. In the context oftheir utilization to dispense WinB products, it would be nearlyimpossible to configure either of the solutions to quickly delivercarefully metered pours on demand. Not only does this flaw increasescosts due to over-dispensing expensive wines, but there are significantoperational costs in commercial beverage service environments incurredwhen establishment staff must spend sufficient time to ensure anaccurate pour.

The system and method of the present invention not only readily addressand solve the drawbacks and disadvantages of all previously known liquidtransport solutions, but also provide a number of heretofore unseenadvantages, particularly when utilized in connection with WinB productsto dispense wine. Specifically, in various exemplary embodimentsthereof, the inventive pressurized liquid storage and dispensing systemis capable of transporting/dispensing wine locally, or to significantlyremote dispensing locations at extremely high speed and with a greatdeal of accuracy without spillage. Moreover, the novel systems' rapidtransport of the wine across a suitable distance also subjects the wineto controlled oxygenation (which when property administered, is widelyconsidered to enhance the positive attributes of most wines). Thishighly desirable feature of the present invention is particularlyadvantageous in view of the fact that in many wine bars/fine diningestablishments, quite a bit of time is spent to “aerate” the wine priorto serving it—a process which would be rendered unnecessary if theinventive system is deployed. Therefore, when used with WinB products,the rapid transport aspect of the inventive system is not onlybeneficial in terms of time savings for accurate pours, but alsoenhances the quality of the dispensed wine.

In addition, the inventive system is highly (and easily) configurable toensure rapid highly accurate pours over a wide range of distancesthrough the use of predefined pressure vs. time algorithms toautomatically manage pour rate accuracy for one or more predeterminedpour sizes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the inventivesystem and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids isshown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSD”) system 1.The PLSD system 1 includes a pressurized container 2 a (e.g., anairtight high-pressure seal rated tank, vessel or equivalent) forstoring a compressible liquid volume 4 (e.g., a flexible WinB product)within a pressurized environment 2 b), a controllable pressure system 5(e.g., a compressor, a compressed air (or other gas) tank, or an airpump connected to an air pressure stabilizer and an air pressureregulator) that is connected to the pressurized environment 2 b througha pressure delivery conduit (e.g. tubing or piping) 8 a. It should benoted that the controllable pressure system 5 may be readily selectedfrom a variety of devices/systems operable to generate and maintain thepressurized environment 2 b within the desired parameters. For example,the controllable pressure system 5 can utilize non-air gas, or anotherfluid. Alternately the pressure force for the controllable pressuresystem 5, may be generated through gravity, preconfigured compressedair/gas container, or through other non-pumping means.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the pressurizedcontainer 2 a may be configured such that the compressible liquid volume4 is implemented directly in the pressurized environment 2 b, withoutbeing encased in a compressible flexible container. In this alternateconfiguration, a dispensing conduit 8 b (which may be plastic or metaltubing, or equivalent), would be directly connected to the pressurizedcontainer 2 a (as opposed to being connected to the liquid volume 4interface), while the controllable pressure system 5 would be selectedand configured to provide direct pressurization to the compressibleliquid volume 4, for example by volumetric compression of the internalregion of the pressurized container 2 a (e.g., by hydraulic/piston-likecompression thereof) to generate and maintain the pressurizedenvironment 2 b within the necessary/desired parameters. The dispensingconduit 8 b may include one or more in-line 1-way check valves tominimize the amount of liquid that remains therein after each time thePLSD system 1 dispenses the liquid therethrough.

The PLSD system 1 also includes a dispensing control system 6 (e.g., asolenoid valve coupled to a dispensing controller (which may range froma solid state electronic control to a computerized system operable toindependently control multiple solenoid valves)), that is connected tothe compressible liquid volume 4 via the conduit 8 b. The dispensingcontrol system 6 is also connected to a dispensing interface 7, via aconduit 8 c (which may likewise comprise plastic or metal tubing, orequivalent). Optionally, the conduit 8 c may be positioned within ahollow protective housing 8 c′, enabling the easy removal andreplacement of conduit 8 c when needed.

The dispensing interface 7 may comprise any apparatus, device or systemsuitable for pouring the dispensed liquid into an appropriate targetcontainer 9 (e.g., a wine glass, or another beverage glass or cup), whenthe dispensing function of the PLSD system 1 is activated. For example,the dispensing interface 7 may be a simple spout, and/or it may includeone or more additional components and features, or equivalents thereof,such as:

-   -   (1) A hand-operated “dispensing gun”, connected to a flexible        hollow protective housing 8 c′, for selectively dispensing        liquid from the liquid volume 4 in a predetermined dispensed        volume (e.g., dispensing a “metered pour”), into any target        container 9. Optionally, a dispensing gun embodiment of the        dispensing interface 7 may be supplied with a splash protector        component (not shown), such as a flexible flange or equivalent        element surrounding a pour component (not shown), so that when        the dispensing interface 7 is positioned above the target        container 9, the splash protector component prevents the liquid        being dispensed through a metered pour at high speed does not        leave the target container 9 regardless of variance in the angle        of the dispensing interface 7 with respect to the central        vertical axis of the target container 9,    -   (2) a vertically elongated housing comprising an opening sized        and configured to receive the target container 9 therein, such        that the target container 9 can be positioned beneath a pour        element (not shown) to ensure that the dispensed liquid enters,        and remains entirely within, the target container 9 during the        dispensing process,    -   (3) an aeration module to additionally aerate the wine prior to        it being dispensed (i.e. in addition to oxygenation that the        wine is already subjected to, during its transport),    -   (4) a local control (e.g., a button, and/or a switch, and/or a        sensor) operable to cause the dispensing control system 6 to        dispense the liquid from the liquid volume 4 in a metered pour,        either manually (when activated by a user), or automatically        (for example by signaling to the dispensing control system 6        when the target container 9 is positioned and ready to receive        the metered pour (for example through a pressure switch in a        dispensing interface 7 platform on which the target container 9        is positioned (as shown by way of example in the exemplary FIG.        3 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a PLSD system 100),        and/or    -   (5) an optional light source operable to illuminate the target        container 9 into which the liquid is being dispensed during the        dispensing process, such that the cessation of the illumination        serves as an indicator that the dispensation has been completed        (the completion of the dispensation may also/alternately be        indicated by other means, such as by an audio signal).

Alternately, the dispensing interface 7 may comprise a more complexsystem that integrates all, or part, of the functionality of thedispensing control system 6.

Optionally, the dispensing control system 6 may be connected to thecontrollable pressure system 5, such that it may be operable to provideany necessary control functions, such as pressuremaintenance/regulation, or, in an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention, when activated (for example, from the dispensing interface 7through a link therewith), the dispensing control system 6 may instructthe controllable pressure system 5 to briefly increase the level ofpressure in the pressurized environment 2 b for all or a portion of theduration of a dispensing period to provide additional force and velocityto liquid being expelled from the liquid volume 4 (for example if thedispensing interface 7 is particularly distant from the pressurizedcontainer 2 a).

As noted above, the PLSD system 1 is operable through selectiveactivation of the dispensing control system 6 (through a remote signalfrom an external controller (e.g., a restaurant management system)),and/or via an activation signal from the dispensing interface 7 (e.g.,by a button, pressure, IR or equivalent switch). In accordance with oneor more predefined dispensing profiles, the dispensing control system 6opens the path therethrough for the conduit 8 b causing the pressurizedliquid to be immediately expelled from the liquid volume 4, through thedispensing control system 6 and the conduit 8 c to be poured at thedispensing interface 7 (in the case when the dispensing control system 6and dispensing interface 7 are integrated, the conduit 8 c iseliminated).

A dispensing profile may be as simple as a predetermined group ofsettings fully or partially locked into the PLSD system 1, that controlpressurization, duration of the dispensing period, and other parameters.Or in more sophisticated implementations of the inventive PLSD system 1,a particular dispensing profile may be issued by a remote controllerthat regulates the volume of the dispensed pour depending on a customerorder, and/or that may provide instructions for additional operations.For example, in accordance with such instructions, the dispensed winecan be diverted and then retrieved from (e.g., via an additional set ofsolenoid valves) a parallel wine aeration and/or accelerated agingsystem, prior to being poured. The implementation of deployment profilesin the inventive PLSD system 1, is preferably supported by at least onepredefined pressure vs. time algorithm that may be executed by thedispensing control system 6 to automatically manage pour rate accuracyfor one or more predetermined pour sizes, at the dispensing interface 7.In one embodiment of the present invention, the remote controller mayinclude a mobile device with a corresponding software applicationcomprising a graphical user interface, installed thereon.

In an alternate embodiment of the PLSD system 1, the pressurizedcontainer 2 a (and optionally the conduits 8 b, 8 c, and the dispensingcontrol system 6) may be positioned in a temperature controlledenvironment 3 that is suitable for temperature stable storage of theliquid being dispensed from the liquid volume 4. The temperaturecontrolled environment 3 may be passive (such as a cellar/basement),active (such as a refrigerated housing (or refrigerated jacketing orcoils positioned around the pressurized container 2 a), or a cold plate(or equivalent), or ice or equivalent freezable cold elements,positioned proximally to the pressurized container 2 a (such under thebottom thereof), or a combination of one or more of the above (such as aclimate controlled wine cellar). Additionally, a temperature controlcomponent may be positioned surrounding the liquid volume 4 (such as acooling jacket around a wine bag).

In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the PLSD system 1 maybe positioned on a mobile cart (not shown) or on an equivalent mobileplatform, wherein the controllable pressure system 5 may comprise one ormore air tanks, wherein the dispensing interface 7 may comprise adispensing gun (as described above), and wherein the dispensing controlsystem may comprise a mobile device supplied with a correspondinguser-controlled application.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of the inventivesystem and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids, isshown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSD”) system 10.The PLSD system 10, by way of example, illustrates multiple alternateembodiments of the PLSD system 1 of FIG. 1, highlighting the highlyconfigurable and scalable properties of the system and method of thepresent invention (for example showing that the novel system can bereadily utilized with multiple WinB products within a single pressurizedcontainer, and may comprise the capability of rapidly and accuratelytransporting the liquid from each stored compressible liquid volume to acommon remote dispensing system, or to a plurality of proximal and/ordispersed dispensing systems. The PLSD system 10, as described below inconnection with FIG. 2, also demonstrates its capability to employ awide range of pressurization, liquid transport, and dispensing options,without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The PLSD system 10 includes a pressurized container 22 a (e.g., anairtight high-pressure seal rated tank, vessel or equivalent), forstoring a compressible liquid volume 28 (e.g., a flexible WinB product)within a pressurized environment 22 b. The compressible liquid volume 28includes a volume interface 32 (e.g., a nozzle or equivalent) foraccessing the liquid stored therein, preferably configured for asealed/airtight connection to a releasable coupling 30 (such as aconnector/compression filling), that in turn connects the compressibleliquid volume 28 to a conduit 44 a/44 b. While the volume interface 32and the releasable coupling 30 may be preconfigured to readily form areleasable sealed connection, in an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention, the releasable coupling 30 may comprise a “universal adapter”component, operable to enable the adaptive releasable coupling 30 toform a secure sealed (but releasable) connection with virtually anyvariation of the volume interface 32. Various embodiments of a noveladaptive releasable coupling that would be particularly advantageous foruse as the adaptive releasable coupling 30, are described in greaterdetail in the co-pending commonly assigned U.S. provisional patentapplication entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING WITH, ANDCONTROLLING, BEVERAGE DISPENSING CONTAINERS”, Ser. No. 61/530,518, whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. It should benoted that preferably the releasable coupling 30 also comprises areleasable sealed connector element operable to form a releasableconnection with the conduit 44 a so that it the conduit 44 a can bereadily disconnected if replacement or either component is necessary. Ina preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sealed connectorelement of the releasable coupling 30 comprises a releasable adaptivepressurized filling that increases in strength and reliability inresponse to an increase in the pressure that is exerted in the PLSDsystem 10 (e.g., such as a pressurized “O-Ring” fitting).

Similarly, the use of such releasable adaptive pressurized fillingswould be advantageous in all components of the PLSD system 10 in whichconnections with various conduits are made (in pressure containerinterfaces 40 a and 40 b (and in optional pressure container interface40 c), in an optional splitter 52 (e.g. a 3-way diverter valve), and innumerous other connections (not specifically identified in FIG. 2)involving the various pressurization conduits 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, and 42d, and the various liquid transport conduits 44 a, 44 b, and 44 c).Preferably, the pressure container interface 40 b and the optionalpressure container interface 40 c comprise 1-way check valves (orcombination control and 1-way check valves). While the liquid transportconduits 44 a, 44 b, and 44 c may be of any sterile materials,preferably, they may be composed of flexible material that will enablethe PLSD system 10 to take advantage of the “hammer effect” to increasethe speed of the liquid being dispensed therethrough.

In accordance with the present invention, the various conduits utilizedin connection with the PLSD system 10 comprise reliable, preferablyflexible, tubing or equivalent, which may be composed from plastic (andrelated materials—e.g., polymers, etc.), or from suitable metal.

In some embodiments of the present invention, all conduits utilized inthe PLSD system 10 may have uniform characteristics, whether employedfor pressurization or for liquid transport functions (in which case whenused for beverage dispensing, the conduits must be composed fromnon-reactive food-safe materials)—thus simplifying the PLSD system 10maintenance and upkeep (i.e., since replacement conduits for eitherpurpose may be readily cut and deployed as needed).

In other embodiments of the present invention, conduits utilized in thePLSD system 10 may have different characteristics, depending on whetherthey are employed for pressurization (e.g., conduits 42 a, 42 b, 42 c,and 42 d), or for liquid transport functions (e.g., conduits 44 a, 44 b,and 44 c). In this case, the pressurization conduits do not need to befood-safe and may be more robust (such as through use of metal tubing),while the liquid transport conduits must be composed from non-reactivefood-safe materials. Utilizing flexible materials for the liquidtransport conduits 44 a, 44 b, and 44 c enables the PLSD system 10 totake advantage of the “hammer effect” to increase the speed of theliquid being dispensed therethrough. Depending on their length, theliquid transport conduits 44 b and 44 c may also each include one ormore corresponding controllable valves 46 a, or 46 b, 46 c,respectively, which may be controllable 1-way valves, conventional 1-waycheck valves, or a combination thereof. Optionally, one or more divertervalves may be included in one or more of the liquid transport conduits44 b and 44 c to minimize the amount of liquid that can remain thereinfollowing each time the PLSD system 10 dispenses the liquid.

Optionally, one or more additional compressible liquid volumes 50 mayalso be stored inside the pressurized container 22 a, and also subjectedto the pressurized environment 22 b during PLSD system 10 operation. Thesize and quantity of such additional compressible liquid volume(s) 50may be selected as a matter of design choice (e.g., based on the size ofthe selected pressurized container 22 a, etc.) without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, one of the at leastone additional compressible liquid volumes 50, may be filled with acleaning solution operable for cleaning and sanitizing the liquidtransport conduits 44 b, and 44 c, with the interface element 40 ccomprising a controllable 3-way diverter valve and being positionedin-line in conduit 44 a, such that when activated (for example by thecontrol system 48 a), the PLSD system 10 operation results in thecleaning solution from the compressible cleaning solution volume 50passes through the same conduits, valves and related components as themain liquid being dispensed therethrough, thus ensuring that the PLSDsystem 10 remains clean and hygienic. The activation of the cleaningfunction can occur automatically in accordance with a predefinedschedule, and/or automatically after a certain number of dispensingcycles, and can also be activated manually.

The pressurized container 22 a preferably comprises an access component22 (such as an airtight lid or other cover), that when opened, enablesinstallation, removal, and/or replacement of the compressible liquidvolume 28 (and/or of the additional compressible liquid volume(s) 50),and that when sealed, enables a controllable pressure system 18 togenerate and maintain the desired pressurized environment 22 b duringPLSD system 10 operation.

The utilization of the controllable pressure system 18 by the PLSDsystem 10, is one of the key aspects of the present invention, in thatthe controllable pressure system 18 is not only operable to manage thepressurized environment 22 b in the pressurized container 22 a withindesired parameters (especially as the compressible liquid volumes aredepleted during PLSD system 10 operation), but also because itsoperation supports the deployment and utilization of the above-describeddispensing profiles by one or more dispensing systems (e.g., by acontrol system 48 a of a dispensing system 20 a, and/or by an optionalcontrol system 48 b of an optional dispensing system 20 a).

In at least one exemplary embodiment thereof, the controllable pressuresystem 18 includes a pressure source 34 (such as a compressor, an airpump, or equivalent thereof) connected, via pressurization conduit(s) 42a, 42 b, to a pressure regulator 38 a, that is operable to control theoperation of the pressure source 34 to adjust the pressurizedenvironment 22 b, as needed, via a pressurization conduit 42 c thatforms a pressurized seal with the pressure container interface 40 a.Seal (not check-valve bi-direction)

Preferably, after configuration of the desired settings and parametersthereof, the pressure regulator 38 a operates automatically inaccordance with its settings and parameters. In an alternate embodimentof the present invention, a pressure regulator 38 b (having equivalentfunctionality to the pressure regulator 38 a), or its features may beintegrated into the pressure source 34, instead of using the pressureregulator 38 a (or in addition thereto, for example for enablingbackup/failsafe system operation, e.g., in case the pressure regulator38 a fails).

Preferably, the controllable pressure system 18 also includes a pressurestabilizer 36 positioned between pressurization conduits 42 a and 42 b,operable to “store” pressurization generated by the pressure source 34,and thereby to support the operation of the pressure regulator 38 a byserving as an interim “on-demand” source of pressure for the pressureregulator 38 a without needing to intermittently activate/engage thepressure source 34. Optionally, the pressure stabilizer 36 may serve asan interim pressure source for another pressure regulator of anotherPLSD system (not shown) via the pressurization conduit 42 d, such thatthe other PLSD system may share the pressure source 34 and the pressurestabilizer 36 with the PLSD system 10.

As was noted above, in connection with the description of thecontrollable pressure system 5 of FIG. 1, the controllable pressuresystem 18, and the various components thereof (34, 36, 38 a), may bereadily selected from a variety of devices/systems operable to generateand maintain the pressurized environment 22 b within the desiredparameters. For example, the controllable pressure system 18 can utilizenon-air gas, or another fluid, such as compressed air and/or compressedCO2 tanks. Alternately, the pressure force for the controllable pressuresystem 18, may be generated through gravity, via one or morepreconfigured compressed air/gas container, or through other non-pumpingmeans, and/or through introduction of CO2 into the pressure regulator 38a.

The PLSD system 10 also includes the dispensing control system 20 a,which may comprise:

-   -   (1) a controllable valve 46 a (e.g., a solenoid or other        electromechanical valve) coupled to the compressible liquid        volume 28 via the liquid transport conduit 44 b, the container        interface 40 b, and the liquid transport conduit 44 a        (preferably with a 1-way check valve capability); and    -   (2) the control system 48 a, that comprises:        -   (a) an electronic data processing system operable to execute            program/control instructions (which may be implemented in            virtually any configuration ranging from a solid state            electronic controller, to a computerized system that is            operable to independently control multiple electromechanical            devices and to optionally interface with a more            comprehensive liquid dispensing management system (for            example, such as disclosed in the above-incorporated '491            application),        -   (b) one or more suitable electromechanical control            components operable, in response to the electronic data            processing system, to control electromechanical valves (such            as the controllable valve 46 a (and optionally one or more            additional controllable valve(s) 46 b, 46 c (e.g., if the            optional additional compressible liquid volume 50 is            employed))), and optionally to control other            electromechanical devices (for example, such as one or more            components of the controllable pressure system 18, a            dispensing system 14 a, etc.), and        -   (c) optionally a remote controller component, which may            include a mobile device with a corresponding software            application comprising a graphical user interface, installed            thereon.

The dispensing control system 20 a is also connected to a dispensingsystem 14 a, via the liquid transport conduit 44 c.

If one or more optional additional compressible liquid volume(s) 50 areemployed, the PLSD system 10 may include one or more optional dispensingcontrol system(s) 20 b, having a control system 48 b and a controllablevalve 46 c (each of which may be provided in any of a variety ofconfigurations described above in connection with the control system 48a, and the controllable valve 46 a). The optional dispensing controlsystem 20 b is connected to a dispensing system 14 b, and is operable todispense the liquid from the compressible liquid volume(s) 50therethrough.

Optionally, one or more stand-alone controllable valve(s) 46 b may beprovided that are controllable by the dispensing control system 20 a(and/or by the dispensing control system 20 b, if present), without needfor a dedicated control system therefor. As is shown in FIG. 2 by way ofexample, the stand-alone controllable valve 46 b may be used inconjunction with the additional compressible liquid volume 50 and theoptional splitter 52, to execute rapid metered pours from thecompressible liquid volume 50 to the dispensing system 14 a, while thedispensing control system 20 b is operable to simultaneously executerapid metered pours from the compressible liquid volume 50 to thedispensing system 14 b. Optionally, the above functions can beimplemented utilizing a Y-adapter manifold.

The dispensing system 14 a (and the optional dispensing system 14 b, ifpresent) may comprise any apparatus, device or system suitable fordispensing the liquid, preferably via rapid metered pours, into anappropriate container (e.g., a wine glass), when the dispensing functionof the PLSD system 10 is activated. For example, the dispensing system14 a may be a simple spout, and/or it may include one or more additionalfeatures, including, but not limited to:

-   -   (1) a vertically elongated housing comprising an opening sized        and configured to receive a wine glass therein, such that the        wine glass can be positioned beneath a pour element (not shown)        to ensure that the dispensed liquid enters, and remains entirely        within, the wine glass during the dispensing process,    -   (2) an aeration module to additionally aerate the wine prior to        it being dispensed (i.e. in addition to oxygenation that the        wine is already subjected to, during its transport),    -   (3) a local control (e.g., a button, and/or a switch, and/or a        sensor) operable to cause the dispensing control system 20 a        (and/or the dispensing control system 20 b) to dispense the        liquid from the corresponding selected liquid volume 28 (or 50)        in a metered pour, either manually (when activated by a user),        or automatically (for example by signaling to the dispensing        control system 6 when the wine glass is positioned and ready to        receive the metered pour (for example through a pressure switch        in a dispensing system 14 a or 14 b platform, on which the wine        glass is positioned (as shown by way of example in the exemplary        FIG. 3 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a PLSD system        100),    -   (4) an optional light source operable to illuminate the wine        glass into which the liquid is being dispensed during the        dispensing process, such that the cessation of the illumination        serves as an indicator that the dispensation has been completed        (the completion of the dispensation may also/alternately be        indicated by other means, such as by an audio signal), and/or    -   (5) a flow sensor (e.g., a flow meter), or equivalent means of        sensing the quantity of liquid that has been dispensed in each        metered pour.

Alternately, the dispensing system 14 a (and/or the dispensing system 14b) may comprise a more complex system that integrates all, or part, ofthe functionality of the dispensing control system 20 a (and/or of thedispensing control system 20 b) and may also comprise at least one ofthe above-noted features.

Optionally, the dispensing control system 20 a (and/or of the dispensingcontrol system 20 b) may be connected to the controllable pressuresystem 18 (or to individual component(s) thereof), such that it may beoperable to provide any necessary control functions, such as pressuremaintenance/regulation. In an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention, when activated (for example, from the dispensing system 14 athrough a link therewith), the dispensing control system 20 a mayinstruct the controllable pressure system 18 to briefly increase thelevel of pressure in the pressurized environment 22 b for all (or for aportion of the duration of a dispensing period) to provide additionalforce and velocity to liquid being expelled from the compressible liquidvolume 28 (for example if the dispensing system 14 a is particularlydistant from the pressurized container 22 a), thus temporarily modifyingthe predefined pressure vs. time algorithm(s).

In an alternate embodiment of the PLSD system 10, the pressurizedcontainer 22 a may be positioned in a temperature controlled environment54 that is suitable for temperature stable storage of the liquid beingdispensed from the compressible liquid volume 28 (and/or from thecompressible liquid volume 50). The temperature controlled environment54 may be passive (such as a cellar/basement), active (such as arefrigerated housing (or refrigerated jacketing or coils positionedaround the pressurized container 22 a), or a cold plate (or equivalent),or ice or equivalent freezable cold elements, positioned proximally tothe pressurized container 22 a (such under the bottom thereof), or acombination of one or more of the above (such as a climate controlledwine cellar). Additionally, an individual temperature control component(such as a cooling jacket around a wine bag) may be positionedsurrounding any liquid volume stored in the pressurized container 22 athat requires lower temperatures for optimal storage (e.g. the liquidvolume 28 and/or 50).

Other than as is noted above, the PLSD system 10 operates in a mannersubstantially similar as described above in connection with the PLSDsystem 1 of FIG. 1, with respect to its activation, the use of variousdispensing profiles (e.g., one or both of the dispensing control systems20 a, 20 b be utilize the same, overlapping or different dispensingprofiles).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a third exemplary embodiment of the inventivesystem and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids isshown as a PLSD system 100, configured as an exemplary implementation ofthe PLSD system 10 of FIG. 2, with the relevant components and functionsbeing labeled.

Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed outfundamental novel features of the inventive system and method as appliedto preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of thedevices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinationsof those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially thesame function in substantially the same way to achieve the same resultsare within the scope of the invention. It is the intention, therefore,to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

I claim:
 1. A system for storing and selectively dispensing at least oneportion of a liquid volume, comprising: a hollow pressurizablecontainer, comprising: a hollow housing portion having a hermeticallysealable opening and a pressure sealed housing interface operable toreceive a hermetic connection therewith; and an access portion operableto releaseably connect to said hollow housing portion to form a hermeticseal with said hermetically sealable opening, said hermetically sealableopening being sized and configured to receive a sealed compressiblecontainer containing said liquid volume therethrough, and said hollowhousing portion being configured to maintain an internal pressurizedenvironment when said access portion is closed thereby enablingapplication of pressure by said internal pressurized environment on saidsealed compressible container therewith; a dispensing system connectedto said pressure sealed housing interface within said hollow housingportion, said pressure sealed housing interface within said hollowhousing portion of said hollow pressurizable container capable offorming a hermetic seal with a hermetically sealable interface componentof said sealed compressible container within said hollow housingportion, said dispensing system being operable to selectively lock andunlock while maintaining said hermetic seal; a regulated pressuresystem, connected to said hollow pressurizable container, operable toexert and maintain a sufficient pressure level in said internalpressurized environment to enable compression of said compressiblecontainer to reduce a predetermined volume magnitude of an internalregion of said compressible container to substantially match a magnitudeof said liquid volume stored therein and to maintain said internalregion volume reduction, and that is further sufficient to cause said atleast one portion of said liquid volume to be expelled through saidcompressible container hermetically sealable interface component andthrough said dispensing system in a form of a liquid pour, when, and foras long as, said dispensing system has been unlocked; and a controlsystem operable to selectively unlock and lock said dispensing system;wherein said hollow pressurizable container is capable of housing aplurality of hermetically sealed compressible containers, eachcomprising a liquid volume therein and each further comprising acorresponding hermetically sealed interface component, wherein saidhollow housing portion of said hollow pressurizable container is sizedand capable to store said plural hermetically sealed compressiblecontainers therein, wherein said hermetically pressure sealed housinginterface comprises a plurality of hermetically pressure sealed housinginterfaces, each capable of being connected to a correspondinghermetically sealable interface component of each of said pluralhermetically sealed compressible containers, and wherein said controlsystem is further operable, in response to a signal from said dispensingsystem, to select one of said plural hermetically sealed compressiblecontainers, and to direct said liquid volume from said selected one ofsaid plural hermetically sealed compressible containers to saiddispensing system, when said dispensing system is unlocked by saidcontrol system.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said control systemoperates in accordance with at least one predefined dispensing profilecomprising at least one dispensed volume value of said liquid pour,selectable from a plurality of predetermined dispensed volume values. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein said liquid volume comprises an alcoholicbeverage disposed in said compressible container.
 4. The system of claim3, wherein when said alcoholic beverage comprises a wine, saiddispensing system is operable to oxygenate said expelled liquid volume.5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said pluralhermetically sealed compressible containers comprises a first liquidvolume that is different from a liquid volume stored in at least oneother of said plural hermetically sealed compressible containers.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein said first liquid volume comprises at leastone of a cleaning solution and a disinfecting solution.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said access portion comprises one of: a lockable hingedmember operable to form a hermetic seal with said hermetically sealableopening of said hollow housing portion, or a screw-on member.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said dispensing system comprises a pluralityof dispensing systems, and wherein said control system is furtheroperable to select one of said plural dispensing systems, and to connectsaid selected dispensing system to said compressible containerhermetically sealable interface component through said pressurizedcontainer hermetically pressure sealed housing interface.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein said dispensing system comprises a plurality ofdispensing systems, and wherein said control system is further operableto select one of said plural dispensing systems, and to connect saidselected dispensing system to one of said plural compressible containerhermetically sealed interface components through a corresponding one ofsaid plural pressurized container hermetically pressure sealed housinginterfaces.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said regulated pressuresystem comprises at least one pressure source, and at least one pressureregulating component.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said regulatedpressure system further comprises at least one pressure stabilizingcomponent.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least onepressure source comprises at least one of: a compressor, a tank filledwith a pressurized gas, a down-regulated high pressure source, aplurality of cascading pressurized tanks, a manual pump, or an automaticpump.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein said dispensing system ispositioned a predetermined distance away from said hollow pressurizablecontainer, said dispensing system further comprising a dispensingconduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said dispensingconduit first end is capable of being hermetically connected to saidcompressible container hermetically sealable interface component throughsaid pressurizable container hermetically pressure sealed housinginterface, and wherein said dispensing conduit second end is connectedto said dispensing system.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein saiddispensing conduit further comprises a selectively operable lockingcomponent positioned between said first and said second end thereof, andwherein said selectively operable locking component is operable to blockand unblock said dispensing conduit in response to a corresponding lockand unlock signal from said control system.
 15. The system of claim 13,wherein said dispensing conduit further comprises at least one checkvalve positioned between said first and said second ends thereof, eachoperable to block flow of liquid in a direction of said first end. 16.The system of claim 1, wherein said dispensing system is positionedproximal to said hollow pressurizable container.
 17. The system of claim1, further comprising a cooling system proximal to said hollowpressurizable container, operable to maintain at least one desirabletemperature within said hollow housing portion.
 18. The system of claim1, wherein said dispensing system comprises a conduit having a first endand a second end, wherein said conduit first end is connected to saidcompressible container sealable interface component through saidpressurizable container pressure sealed housing interface, and whereinsaid conduit second end is connected to a dispensing pour componentcomprising an open internal region sized and configured to receive abeverage glass therein, said dispensing pour component furthercomprising an upper region and a lower region, and at least one of: atleast one nozzle positioned in said upper region and connected to saidconduit second end, operable to dispense said liquid pour therethroughwhen said dispensing system is unlocked, a pour control componentoperable to select a volume value of said liquid pour from at least onepredetermined volume value and to cause said dispensing system to unlockfor a sufficient period of time to dispense said selected liquid pourvolume value, or a pour activation component, positioned in saiddispensing pour component open internal region, operable to cause saiddispensing system to unlock for a sufficient period of time to dispensesaid liquid pour into said beverage glass, when said beverage glass isplaced in said dispensing pour component open internal region.